Wallabies 2020

[Braveheart81]

None of these players are going to be converted from props to backrowers. They've played Super Rugby and made Wallaby squads on the basis of their play as a prop and now people are suggesting they will be made backrowers where they would be average ball carriers for the position without the speed and stamina to play the position well.

They'd maybe be reasonable club rugby number 8s.

For both Bell and Fa'amausili, they need to improve their scrummaging but they are both young, particularly Bell and have already come a long way in a short period of time.

I think Bell is particular is going to play a lot of tests.

 

[Rugby Head]

I noticed in the pre-match warm up last night that HJH (Harry Johnson-Holmes) was packing on the side of the scrum. At first I thought it would be to fill a gap in the wider squad backrow but then figured we should have had Samu, McReight and Naisarani available. I wonder if there is a move in the Wallabies camp to remodel HJH (Harry Johnson-Holmes) as a No 6.

It would seem to be odd to me if that were so. I reckon HJH (Harry Johnson-Holmes) is better in the front row than Bell and he was playing LHP in the A games against Argentina. I'd prefer to see Bell remodeled as a No 8 if there is a perceived weakness in the backrow.

Assuming he was the back up prop, they would have been doing two opposed packs for a warm up. Starting 8 vs bench 5 + cover players to fill in the numbers. I think its safe to say HJH (Harry Johnson-Holmes) is not moving to the flank.

 

[upthereds#!]

HJH (Harry Johnson-Holmes) and Hosea both warmed up. You always carry extra men on game day in case of an injury during the warmup.

In no way shape or form is HJH (Harry Johnson-Holmes) being shaped as a backrower. Rugby Head got it right.

 

[Dctarget]

Vunivalu has been released from Wallabies camp. Disappointed we don't get to see these forums gnash teeth over his inclusion for another week.

Released with him are Neville, Naisarani & Ainsley (who's off to the 'Landers, does he count as their foreign import?).

Still not impressed with Isi apparently. Hopefully it's the rocket he needs for a good 2021 season and not a sign for him to bugger off OS.

Also, I guess Hosea is the next cab off the ranks for locks. Wouldn't mind seeing him in Sydney against the Argies.

Does anyone have a list floating around of who's still in? Has Powell been released?

 

[Adam84]

With the remaining Super Rugby teams starting pre-season this week it makes sense to send them back.

 

[Brumby Runner]

I think there is zero chance of either of those happening. Purely contingency planning, which I like.

And Naisarani has just been released from the Wallabies squad again. Can't see much future for him under Rennie.

 

[Brumby Runner]

Assuming he was the back up prop, they would have been doing two opposed packs for a warm up. Starting 8 vs bench 5 + cover players to fill in the numbers. I think its safe to say HJH (Harry Johnson-Holmes) is not moving to the flank.

I agree that it is unlikely, though not unknown, for players to be moved from spot to spot, but I'm also sure that there was a full bench 8 available. No obvious reason to play a bench prop on the side when both Samu and McReight were in the squad.

 

[Brumby Runner]

Vunivalu has been released from Wallabies camp. Disappointed we don't get to see these forums gnash teeth over his inclusion for another week.

Released with him are Neville, Naisarani & Ainsley (who's off to the 'Landers, does he count as their foreign import?).

Still not impressed with Isi apparently. Hopefully it's the rocket he needs for a good 2021 season and not a sign for him to bugger off OS.

Also, I guess Hosea is the next cab off the ranks for locks. Wouldn't mind seeing him in Sydney against the Argies.

Does anyone have a list floating around of who's still in? Has Powell been released?

I believe Powell has been released.

 

[Braveheart81]

I agree that it is unlikely, though not unknown, for players to be moved from spot to spot, but I'm also sure that there was a full bench 8 available. No obvious reason to play a bench prop on the side when both Samu and McReight were in the squad.

They don't use the full squad in the warm up for a match. A few players (like Harry Johnson-Holmes) would have warmed up with the 23 and then helped with the various drills like lineouts and scrums.

I would assume they always have a 5th prop as part of this because they are the player outside the 23 most likely to come in for a last minute injury as they cover 4 players.

Needing to have a flanker there to pack on the side of a mildly contested scrum where no play happens off it would not even be a consideration.

 

[Up the Guts]

HJH (Harry Johnson-Holmes) to six would really stiffen the lineout, we've been in desperate need of another lifter.

 

[TSR]

Imagine how good our scrum will be. Particularly if he masters the talent of creeping up and making a 4 person front row.

 

[wamberal]

And Naisarani has just been released from the Wallabies squad again. Can't see much future for him under Rennie.

Has me scratching my head, frankly.

 

[cyclopath]

Has me scratching my head, frankly.

Rennie seems to favour work-rate, not impact so much, especially in the back row it seems. I guess he feels Naisarani doesn't provide enough of that? Just hypothesising. I am a bit bemused that he cannot be supercharged a bit more to fit the bill, if that is the case.

 

[rodha]

Rennie seems to favour work-rate, not impact so much

As did Robbie Deans, scaringly similar in-fact (ie workhorse McCabe over flashy centres). Seems as if Rennie & Deans' coaching philosophies are more closely aligned than G&G's would like to admit. Concerning results their 1st years have been quite similar too: One Bledisloe upset against NZ at home, followed by an All Black blow-out at Eden Park, followed by a record defeat (Johannesburg 2008, Sydney 2020), at the end of the 2008 season Dean's win percentage sat at 65%, Rennie's (however) at the end of 2020 (assuming the Wallabies beat Argentina next week) will sit at merely 50%.

 

[barbarian]

Think that's a long bow. Wasn't a hallmark of the Deans era a more free-form style where we 'play what's in front of us'?

I'd suggest the Deans sides were under-coached, which isn't something I'd say about the Rennie Wallabies so far. We seem very tactical, very planned, very coached.

 

[Up the Guts]

As did Robbie Deans, scaringly similar in-fact (ie workhorse McCabe over flashy centres). Seems as if Rennie & Deans' coaching philosophies are more closely aligned than G&G's would like to admit. Concerning results their 1st years have been quite similar too: One Bledisloe upset against NZ at home, followed by an All Black blow-out at Eden Park, followed by a record defeat (Johannesburg 2008, Sydney 2020), at the end of the 2008 season Dean's win percentage sat at 65%, Rennie's (however) at the end of 2020 (assuming the Wallabies beat Argentina next week) will sit at merely 50%.

Will be interesting to see who has the higher win % out of Foster and Rennie at the end of the year.

 

[qwerty51]

Will be interesting to see who has the higher win % out of Foster and Rennie at the end of the year.

Will be Foster? 3/6 = 50%
Rennie 2/6 = 33.33%

 

[Up the Guts]

Will be Foster? 3/6 = 50%
Rennie 2/6 = 33.33%

NZ to win this week?

 

[Derpus]

Think that's a long bow. Wasn't a hallmark of the Deans era a more free-form style where we 'play what's in front of us'?

I'd suggest the Deans sides were under-coached, which isn't something I'd say about the Rennie Wallabies so far. We seem very tactical, very planned, very coached.

Better coach, less cattle.

 

[Viking]

Rennie seems to favour work-rate, not impact so much, especially in the back row it seems. I guess he feels Naisarani doesn't provide enough of that? Just hypothesising. I am a bit bemused that he cannot be supercharged a bit more to fit the bill, if that is the case.

But Rennie dropped Hanigan for Swinton in search of more impact, and in his interviews has praised Swintons "edge" in the first 30mins. If Swinton was avaliable I have no doubt he would be the 6.

So hard to say Rennie favours the workhorse. Maybe he just favours more dynamic players who can also be used in a line-out etc.